Hello, I’m Stewart Holden. I conduct personal and meaningful cremations and cemetery burials across Northern Ireland.

A non-religious funeral allows us to concentrate on the person we have lost, and to mark their passing with a ceremony that truly reflects how they chose to live their life. I will meet with you and learn about the person who has died, to ensure that the ceremony tells the story of the life that your loved one actually lived. I encourage you to choose the music, poetry and prose that reflects their tastes, their experiences, and their contribution to the lives of those around them. I can make suggestions and help you choose pieces that feel right for you.

There is no such thing as an ordinary person, or an ordinary life, and so every funeral should be unique to the person that has died. By involving yourself in the creation of the funeral that your loved one would have wanted, it is possible to create a funeral ceremony that is a meaningful and relevant celebration of life.

There is no set script for a humanist funeral. Every ceremony is written from scratch and the family are given time to approve every word and make any desired changes to the script before the funeral takes place.

Of course, some of the people who attend a non-religious funeral have their own beliefs, and so, if you choose, we can include time for quiet reflection following the tribute. Those with religious beliefs are then welcome to use this time for silent prayer. It’s important that everyone attending a humanist funeral knows that they are welcome and that their beliefs are respected.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me; I am available at any time of day on 07971 634098 or by email stewart.holden@nihumanists.org

Recent feedback:

“It was a memorable service and you did [my husband] justice. It was so personal and meant so much to everyone. Thank you again for your help at such short notice.” – TH, June 2017

“I would like to thank you for your sensitive and uplifting service this morning. Your caring sensitivity made a difficult time a whole lot easier for us.  Everyone has commented on it and I would like to thank you on behalf of the whole family.” – AC, October 2017

“Stewart was great. He did a job that was very hard but just the way myself and my 4 sons wanted. My husband would have been very happy.” – EM, March 2018